Corrigendum: Prevalence and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection among treatment naïve dyspeptic adults in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

In their published article, the authors detected errors with the initials and address of the first author. These errors have been corrected as appropriate

Assessment of the living conditions of rural based people living with HIV/AIDS with clinical presentations in Nigeria

Objective: To describe the living conditions of rural based people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) and their clinical presentationsDesign: Descriptive cross-sectional studySetting: University College Hospital, IbadanSubjects: PLWHA on anti-retroviral therapyResults: One hundred and fifty PLWHA participated. The mean age of the respondents was 28.7±8.9 years. Majority of the respondents visited had advanced disease (97%), were poor (75%) and presented with opportunistic infections such as oral candidiasis (92%), chronic diarrhoea (70%) and pulmonary tuberculosis (46%). Majority were treated for malaria (72%) and anaemia (61%). All respondents lived in homes predisposed to these opportunistic infections. They drink unsafe water and had poor disposal of their domestic wastes.Conclusion: PLWHA visited lived in homes that predispose them to various opportunistic infections. Improved living conditions and economic empowerment will improve the health conditions of PLWHA

Histological and biochemical effects of Arteethertm on the liver of wistar rats

ArteetherTM is among the recent drugs that are used to combat chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites. This study examined the effects of arteetherTM on enzyme biomarkers of the liver, serum protein concentrations, and liver morphology. Twenty (20) adult albino Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each, and used in this study. Group A rats were given intramuscular (i. m.) arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days.Group B rats received i. m. arteetherTM (6 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. Group C rats were given i. m. arteetherTM (3 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 days. The same dose was repeated at two-weekly intervals for 4 further weeks, while group D rats which received normal saline (0.9 % w/ v, 3 ml/kg b.w.), served as controls. At the end of the experiment, the body weights of the animals were determined and recorded. Serum levels of alanine  transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (ASP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total protein (TP) and albumin were assayed, and histological studies were performed. Results obtained show no significant difference (P<0.05) in liver enzymes (ALT, ASP, ALP). TP and albumin were significantly reduced in group C rats. Histological studies revealed no cyto-architectural changes. It is concluded that at therapeutic doses, arteetherTM is well tolerated in Wistar rats. .Key Words: ArteetherTM; Malaria; Liver enzymes; Serum protein concentrations; Morphology; Wistar rat

Echocardiographic partition values and prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive Nigerians

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a well known independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. It has been shown that combination of left ventricular mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness (RWT) can be used to identify different forms of left ventricular (LV) geometry. Prospective studies have shown that LV geometric patterns have prognostic implications, with the worst prognosis associated with concentric hypertrophy. The methods for the normalization or indexation of LVM have also recently been shown to confer some prognostic value especially in obese population. We sought to determine the prevalence of echocardiographic lLVH using eight different and published cut-off or threshold values in hypertensive subjects seen in a developing country's tertiary centre. METHODS: Echocardiography was performed in four hundred and eighty consecutive hypertensive subjects attending the cardiology clinic of the University college Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria over a two-year period. RESULTS: Complete data was obtained in 457 (95.2%) of the 480 subjects (48.6% women). The prevalence of LVH ranged between 30.9–56.0%. The highest prevalence was when LVM was indexed to the power of 2.7 with a partition value of 49.2 g/ht(2.7 )in men and 46.7 g/ht(2.7 )in women. The lowest prevalence was observed when LVM was indexed to body surface area (BSA) and a partition value of 125 g/m(2 )was used for both sexes. Abnormal LV geometry was present in 61.1%–74.0% of our subjects and commoner in women. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LVH hypertensive patients is strongly dependent on the cut-off value used to define it. Large-scale prospective study will be needed to determine the prognostic implications of the different LV geometry in native Africans

HIV treatment is associated with a twofold higher probability of raised triglycerides: pooled analyses in 21 023 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa

Background Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimes for HIV are associated with raised levels of circulating triglycerides (TGs) in western populations. However, there are limited data on the impact of ART on cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations. Methods Pooled analyses of 14 studies comprising 21 023 individuals, on whom relevant cardiometabolic risk factors (including TG), HIV and ART status were assessed between 2003 and 2014, in SSA. The association between ART and raised TG (>2.3 mmol/L) was analysed using regression models. Findings Among 10 615 individuals, ART was associated with a two-fold higher probability of raised TG (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.51–2.77, I2 = 45.2%). The associations between ART and raised blood pressure, glucose, HbA1c, and other lipids were inconsistent across studies. Interpretation Evidence from this study confirms the association of ART with raised TG in SSA populations. Given the possible causal effect of raised TG on cardiovascular disease (CVD), the evidence highlights the need for prospective studies to clarify the impact of long term ART on CVD outcomes in SS

Omics-based molecular techniques in oral pathology centred cancer: Prospect and challenges in Africa

: The completion of the human genome project and the accomplished milestones in the human proteome project; as well as the progress made so far in computational bioinformatics and “big data” processing have contributed immensely to individualized/personalized medicine in the developed world.At the dawn of precision medicine, various omics-based therapies and bioengineering can now be applied accurately for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and risk stratifcation of cancer in a manner that was hitherto not thought possible. The widespread introduction of genomics and other omics-based approaches into the postgraduate training curriculum of diverse medical and dental specialties, including pathology has improved the profciency of practitioners in the use of novel molecular signatures in patient management. In addition, intricate details about disease disparity among diferent human populations are beginning to emerge. This would facilitate the use of tailor-made novel theranostic methods based on emerging molecular evidences

Posterior spinal decompression, stabilization and arthrodesis in Nigerian adults: Profile and outcome

Background: The availability of intraoperative fluoroscopy and improved access to varieties of spinal titanium implants has revived posterior spinal stabilization techniques with their distinct advantages. Our aim is to describe the profile of various spine pathologies requiring subaxial posterior spinal decompression, stabilization (using titanium implants), and arthrodesis, and to determine the rate of postoperative complications and factors affecting outcome. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective single institution study of consecutive adult patients seen during the study period. Data collected included the patients’ demographics, radiological findings, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. Results: There were 26 patients (15 males and 11 females). Their ages ranged between 24 and 78 years (median = 42 years). The most common indications for surgery were spinal trauma and degenerative spine disease (24 patients). The region that was most commonly stabilized was the lumbar- 12 cases (46.2%). No patients experienced neural or vascular injury as a result of screw position; likewise no patient had screw loosening. There was a case each of superficial surgical site infection and transient cerebrospinal fluid leak but no case of implant failure was encountered. The outcome was significantly associated with the etiology (0.030) of the indication for surgery and preoperative power grade (0.000). Conclusion: Spinal trauma and degenerative spine disease are the two most common indications for posterior spinal decompression, stabilization and fusion in our center. It is associated with acceptable postoperative complication rate when done under fluoroscopic guidance. Outcome is related more to the preoperative neurological deficit and etiology of the indication for surgical stabilization.Keywords: Expansive laminoplasty, lateral mass screw, pedicle screwsNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 53 | Issue 1 | January-March | 201

Delivery outcome and predictors of successful vaginal birth after primary cesarean delivery: A comparative study: Vaginal birth after cesarean section

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the rate and predictive factors for successful vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, and measure maternal and neonatal outcomes of VBAC following one previous cesarean delivery. Methods: In this hospital-based prospective study, sixty women with one previous CD (subjects) who attempted VBAC and another sixty without previous CD (controls) carrying singleton cephalic fetuses matched for maternal age, parity, and gestational age were compared. The primary outcome measures were successful vaginal delivery and its predictors. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 22.0), and p<0.05 was significant. Results: Out of 1768 deliveries, 105 (5.9%) had one previous CD; 57.1% (60/105) attempted while 61.7% (37/60) had successful VBAC; 23 (38.3%) had failed VBAC and repeat CD, while 14 (23.3%) of the control group had CD. The significant predictors of successful VBAC were cervical dilatation ≥4cm on admission (p=0.003), maternal age >35 years (p=0.019); and augmentation of labor (p=0.020); while previous vaginal delivery (p=0.108), parity (p=0.706), BMI (0.240), and inter-delivery interval (p=0.265) were not statistically significant. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were not statistically different among women who had successful VBAC after one CD compared to women without previous CD. Important morbidities following VBAC included uterine rupture (3.3%) and primary postpartum hemorrhage (6.7%). There was no peripartum hysterectomy or maternal death; the perinatal mortality rate was 16.7/1,000 live births for women who attempted VBAC while no perinatal death was recorded among the controls. Conclusion: VBAC is safe, and its outcome is comparable to women without previous CD